BOSTON, Mass. -- Cavaliers coach Mike Brown declined to specify the reasons for the team's indefinite suspension of center Andrew Bynum for conduct detrimental to the team, but it appears his tenure with the Cavs is nearing an end.

Asked if Bynum had played his last game for the Cavs, Brown said before Saturday's game against the Celtics, "He's had an indefinite suspension. Again, I'm not trying to be funny, but you know what indefinite means.''

Asked what prompted the suspension, Brown said only that it was an ''internal matter.''

Asked what Bynum would have to do to be reinstated, Brown said, "Again, I'm not trying to be funny, but he's suspended indefinitely and we all know what that means. We'll see.''

It appears that the team had been concerned for some time about a pattern of behavior from Bynum and whether he was fully committed to basketball. NBA sources said the straw that broke the camel's back occurred on Friday at practice when an obviously disinterested Bynum took some wild shots that angered coaches and teammates, continuing what had become a trend. One NBA source denied a rumor that Bynum had cussed at Brown. At any rate, the team elected to suspend Bynum at that point and he did not accompany the team to Boston.

As recently as Thursday night, Brown was asked if he'd give Bynum a night off and he said no. But in discussing changing his starting lineup that night, inserting Earl Clark for Alonzo Gee, Brown said, "Bynum has been up and down. Sometimes he's down because we couldn't get him the ball. But we have ways now we've figured out how to get him the ball. It's a matter of him producing.''

It was the first time Brown, who coached Bynum with the Lakers and was his biggest fan up to this point, put any blame on Bynum. Previously, he talked more about the problems the Cavs were having adjusting to playing with a traditional big man in the post. In the double overtime loss to Atlanta on Thursday, Bynum played just 17:49. He left in the middle of the third quarter and did not return.

Cavs players tried to put the news behind them.

"It’s just a terrible situation internally with our team,'' Kyrie Irving said before the game, referring to the suspension not whatever happened at practice. "It’s just something we have to get over. Coach’s decision, came from management. That’s kind of where it stays is with management.''

Said Jarrett Jack, "We play with who we have in uniform and we go from there. We're more than confident in the guys we have in the locker room, regardless of who's in uniform and we're ready to take the floor as usual as if nothing happened.''

Added Dion Waiters, "Whatever happened, we've got to keep it in the locker room. I don't know what happened, to be honest. I really didn't see what happened.''

Players said Bynum kept to himself but was pleasant enough in the locker room, if not outgoing. Other reports have surfaced calling him ''disruptive.''

Irving said the Cavs would miss Bynum on the court.

"We need him out there,'' Irving said. "He’s a dominant force for our team. It’s hard. You lose a teammate, but this situation gives everybody else a chance to step up. That’s kind of how we look at the situation. He’s going to be missed, but we have to still play games. That’s what it’s about.''

Timing is of the essence here, as NBA contracts are guaranteed as of Jan. 10, but players must be released by Jan. 7 in order to clear waivers. With the full support of owner Dan Gilbert, the Cavs signed Bynum to a two-year, $24 million contract last summer, but only $6 million is guaranteed. If the team is convinced he is not fully committed going forward and releases him, it would save itself $6 million. Given the nature of his contract, he also could be traded, although no other team besides the Cavs was interested in signing him last summer after he missed an entire season in Philadelphia with ongoing knee problems. After Saturday's suspension, rumors surfaced that the Clippers and/or Celtics could be interested, although there also have been suggestions Bynum only wants to play for a contender and the Celtics might not qualify.

Bynum worked incredibly hard over the summer to try to get back into shape and actually returned to action on opening night. He moved into the starting lineup on Nov. 11 at Chicago and was averaging 8.4 points and 5.3 rebounds heading into Saturday's game.

But he clearly was struggling with not being the player he once was and with being unable to play without pain.

Before a game in Philadelphia on Nov. 8, he told reporters he was a shell of himself and that basketball had lost its joy for him.

"I’m not able to do the things I used to be able to do and it’s frustrating, he said. Later, he said, "At the moment, it’s tough to enjoy the game because of how limited I am physically. I’m still sort of working through that....My health is my concern. My knees are my knees. They’re not going to get better, they are what they are. That’s really it....I feel like I can still be a double-double guy in this league, but it’s just going to take some modifications to my game and whether or not I want to accept the challenge and do that.''

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